Improvement in mechanisms for operating sewing-machines



UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

ELIJ AH LEAVITT HOVARD, OF MALDEN, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE AUGUSTUS WHITING, OFCHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MECHANISMS FOR OPERATING SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 110,569. dated December 27, 1870.

To all persons to whom these presents may come Be it known that I, ELIJAH LEAviTr How- ARD, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Operating a Sewing-Machine; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawing, of which- Figure l denotes a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a transverse section, of a sewing-machine table or bench as provided with my invention.

In such drawing, A is to be supposed to represent the driving-pulley of a sewing-machine, and B the table or bench of such machine. O exhibits a wheel carried by a driving-shaft, D.

Where several machines are xed on a bench or table, and put in operation by a drivingshaft carrying a number of pulleys or wheels corresponding to the number of machines, each machine having its separate driving-belt or band running around one of the shaftwheels, it often becomes desirable to stop one or more of the machines and continue the rest in operation. Under these circumstances it will be seen that all the driving-belts must continue in operation, or the shafts must be revolved in the driving-pulleys of such belts, thereby creating` friction and wear, and, generally speaking, more or less objectionable noise, which it is very desirable to avoid if possible.

My mechanism for elfecting the rotary motion of a sewing or other machine drivingwheel is so entirely independent of the wheel by which it is put in operation that when out of contact or engagement therewith such mechanism will be entirely at rest, and the wheel may revolve without noise or friction.

In carrying out my invention, I arrange within and pivot to a lever or frame, E, a wheel, F, having its periphery covered with a tire, t, of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable soft and yielding material, to work against the periphery of the driving -wheel C. The said wheel F is to be disposed in front ot' the wheel C, and to have upon its shaft a, at one end, a grooved wheel or pulley, b, around which and E is so inclined as to enable its weight and that of the shaft a and the wheels b F to suffice to cause the wheel F to fall back out of contact with the wheel C when free to do so.

A rod, j', extended down through the upper arm or part of the lever E, has a screw, g, to receive two nuts, h i, arranged directly over the lever. The said rod j', at its upper end, is pivoted to one end of a horizontal lever, 7c, pivoted to the table and arranged as repre sented, the fulcrum or pivot of the lever 7c being shown at Z. The said rod f and lever 7c are in effect toggles to throw the wheel F into contact and keep it in engagement with the Wheel C, the twonuts and the screw of the rod enabling this to be accomplished with the necessary Vdegree of power, as circumstances from time to time may require, for causing the wheel F to be put and kept in revolution by the said wheel C.

With my invention au attendant of the sew. ing-machine can, with his or her foot, by means of the pedal, and while hold of the work with both hands, put the machine into action or cause it to stop; or the attendant, by turning Ythe toggle-lever k, can move the lever E so as to forcerthe wheel F into contact with the wheel C, and keep them so, so long as the lever k may be against a stop, s, properly ar ranged to arrest the movement of the lever when the axles of the toggles may be in one plane.

It desirable, a spring may be employed to aid in moving back the lever E and the wheels supported by it.

I claim as my invention the following, viz:

1. The combinationY and arrangement of the lever or rocking-frame E, the shaft a, the

Wheels F Z, the arm e, and pedal H, all being arranged or to be arranged with a driving- Wheel, C, as set forth.

2. The combination and arrangement of the lever 7c, the rod f, and its screw g and nuts l1l fi, with the frame or lever E, the shaft a., and the Wheels F b,"all being arranged or to be arranged with a clriving-\vhee1, C, as explained.

3. The combination and arrangement of the pedal H and toggles kf, as set forth, with the frame or lever E, and its shaft a and Wheels F b, arranged as described.

4. The combina-tion and arrangement of the rocker-frame or lever E, and its shaft; a and Wheels F b, With the band c and pulley A., the driving-wheel C, and the pedal H, or the toggles kf, or both pedal and toggles, all being to operate as described.

E. L. HOWARD.

Vitnesses R. H. EDDY, J. R. SNOW. 

